Liquid-soap dispenser



Dec; 29, 1925- H. P. LESMANN LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed May 5, 1919 INVENTOR Hmnwvfi ZESAMAN A TTOR/VE Y Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN I. LESMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ANTISEPTOL LIQUID SOAP COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LIQUID-SOAP DISPENSER.

Application filed May 5,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I. HERMAN P. LESMANN, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LiquidSoap Dispensers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to a device for discharging measured quantities of liquid soap from a receptacle or pipe line.

Devices of this kind are generally installed in public places or large establishments where they are subjected to almost continuous use, and successively, by different persons. The reason for providing liquid soap in such places is that it IS more san itary than the ordinary cake soap, but this in turn implies that the dispensing apparatus shall be of such form as to be readily maintained in sanitary condition.

The general object of my invention is to provide a soap dispensing device which shall be composed of relatively few parts and which, therefore, can be readily maintained in proper working condition, and at the same time manufactured at low cost.

Other objects of my invention are to pro vide a device, of the reciprocating type, which shall be so constructed that the reciprocating element is always provided with a considerable bearing surface to the end that even when constantly actuated it will remain tight and thereby prevent accidental (lll] I ping of the liquid soap.

Again, it is an object of my invention to provide a device which shall accurately and forcibly discharge a predetermined measured quantity of liquid soap and winch shall be of such construction that the measured liquid shall be prevented from being forced back into the line or receptacle by the actuation thereof.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a dispensing device in which the member actuated by the user is removed from the liquid discharge to the end that the device may be more easily maintained in sanitary condition.

I also aim to provide a construction that shall be practically trouble proof, that is to say, which may be safely installed in public places without danger of getting out of order.

My invention consists generally in the form, arrangement, construction and co-op- 1919. Serial No. 294,849.

eration of the parts,

whereby the above named objects,

together with others that will appear hereinafter, are attainable, and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what I consider to be the best embodiment thereof at the present time.

In said drawings: Fig. 1, is a view of a liquid container equipped with a dispensing device embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is an enlarged, longitudinal section of the dis pensing device showing the parts in their normal closed or inoperative position. Fig. 3, is an end view of the dispenser. Fig. a, is a View similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the parts in the extreme inward position of the stroke. Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6, is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1, of the drawings I have illustrated a glass container, 1, which may and does assume different shapes and which, so far as the present invention is concerned, represents merely means for supplying the dispenser with liquid soap and may, therefore, be considered broadly as the conduit.

In the present instance a projection 3, is provided in the lower part of the receptacle, 1, and in the side wall 4, thereof, Iarranged, in a horizontally disposed position, the dispensing device, 5. The dispensing device 5, in the present instance comprises a bar-- re], (3, having a relatively long cyliln'lricai chamber, 7, at one end, a threaded interioropening 8 at the other end, and an intermediate chamber 9 of reduced size. A packing nut 10, is provided having threads which coact with the threads of the opening 8, and which together with the packing washer 11, make a liquid-tight joint such as effectually excludes the passage of the liquid soap therethrough. The end of the chamber 7, is provided with internal threads, 12, for coaction with threads, 13, of the nut, 14. The nut, 14, in turn is provided with internal screw threads, 15, and the chamber provided thereby communicates with a relatively small duct, 16, leading to the chamber 7, as is well shown in Fig. 2. A connector, 17, is inserted through an opening 18, in the liquid chamber or line, the outer end of which is provided with screw threads, 19, whereby the dispenser may be joined thereto, and

when screwed tightly into place, because of the interposition of packing washers, 20 and 21, provides a thoroughly liquid-tight joint. It thus, becomes apparent that the liquid from the receptacle or line will flow into the chamber 7, through the duct, 16, and it is from this chamber that I desire to discharge the liquid into the hand of the user. For this purpose I provide a plunger .32, the largest diameter of which is substantially the same as the diameter of the duct or passage 9, in the barrel 6, and which is provided. with an intermediate reduced portion 23, such that a small chamber 21-, is provided between the plunger and the duct or chamber, 9, of the barrel. At the same time the proportion oi the parts and the length of the reduced portion, 29, are such that the plunger is provided with a very long bearing surface, such as positively holds the plunger in properly aligned position. This is important for the reason that the device is almost constantly actuated and inless properly supported would soon become disaligned, the wearing surface, scored, or worn away on one side, turn, would permit the dripping of the liquid soap even when the device was in closed position. The plunger 22, is held in the closed position shown in l 2, by means 01: a compression spring, 25, which is interposed between the nut, 1d, and the piston-like end 26, of the )lunger. The piston-like end, 26, is provi ed with a washer 27, of a material such that the spring in pressing it against the shoulder 28, oil the barrel will form a liquid-tight joint.

Extending inwardly from the Jlunger 22, and in line-with the duct, 16, of the nut, Lt, will be found a'pin 29, the end 30, of which is relatively close to the duct, 16. Therefore, as soon as the plunger 22, is pushed inwardly the end 30 of the pin enters the duct 16, etlectually closing the same and preventing further movement 01 the pistonlilre end oi the plunger from "forcing the liquid soap in the chamber, 7, back into the line. As the plunger moves inwardly, the liquid soap finds its way past the pistonlike 'end 26, which it will be noted, is somewhat smaller than the size of the chamber, 7, and when the plunger has reached its innermost position, as shown in Fig. 4:, the desired measure of liquid soap will be found on the outside of the piston-like end, 26, and when the plunger is released, the spring 25, restores the plunger to the position shown in Fig. 2. Upon the return movement, the liquid soap is positively forced through the duct 9, until it reaches the downwardly extending outlet duct, 31,

which in at which time it flows by gravity therethrough into the hand of the user, positioned thereunder.

It should be noted that while the bearing portion 22 of the plunger 22, is removed from contact with the walls or" the duct 9, when the plunger is in its innermost position, a considerable greater part of the bearing surface 22 is in place, so that at no time is the plunger unprovided with a considerable longitudinal bearing surface. This extensive bearing surface especially at the outer end of the device as shown, in Fig. 4:, is of further advantage in preventing the flow of liquid soap along that portion and thereby requiring all of it to discharge through the outlet duct 31.

It will-be seen that none of the parts engaged by the hand of the user are engaged by the soap and hence it becomes possible to keep the dispenser in a dry and sanitary condition much more easily than is possible in devices in which the soap flows upon the hand engaged parts.

I claim:

In a soap dispenser, in combination, a horizontally disposed barrel forming a receiving chamber and provided with an outlet passage extending laterally trom the bore and terminating at the outer side of the barrel, an attaching element with which the barrel is associated and forming an inlet for the barrel, a plunger including a head arranged within the chamber in the barrel and a stem slidable in the bore for guiding the head and provided approximately medially of its ends with a reduced portion leaving spaced annular shoulders, the inner of which is normally arranged adjacent the inner edge of the passage,*the inner portion of the stem of the plunger acting to normally close the bore and the passage, the head of the plunger upon inward movement being adapted to close the inlet to the chamber and to force liquid from the chamber about the reduced portion oi": its stem to its outermost annular shoulder and thence through the outlet passage, a compressible return spring arranged at the inner end of the chamber and coacting with the head of the plunger, the spring when fully compressed serving to limit the inward movement of the plunger and maintain the outermost shoulder adjacent the outer edge of the passage, and avfinger piece on the outer end of the stem for facilitating the operation of the plunger;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1919.

HERMAN P. LESMANN. 

